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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Opposition leader gives Duterte "passing" grade for 2019-20 performance

Opposition leader gives Duterte "passing" grade for 2019-20 performance

Published Jul 27, 2020 04:02 pm

House Minority Leader Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. maintains President Duterte still deserves a "passing grade" for his performance amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

House Minority Leader Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. (Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)

However, the Manila 6th district congressman couldn't say the same for the President's subordinates.

"I would still rate the President with a passing grade. Sa akin ha (That's just me)," Abante told House reporters in a virtual press conference a couple of hours before Duterte's State of the Nation Address (SoNA).

"Although syempre ngayon litong-lito ang gobyerno sa pandemic na ito. Nabigla tayong lahat. Hindi tayo handa sa mga bagay na ito (Although right now, the pandemic has left the government confused. We were caught flat-footed. We weren't ready for these things). But still I believe the President is doing his best," he said.

"Yung mga nasa ilalim niya eh napakabagal kumilos sa pandemic na ito (Those under him have been slow to act in this pandemic). So I would still give him a passing grade. Hindi failure ang ating executive (The executive wasn't a failure)," he added.

Abante reckoned that the government must impose "drastic changes" when it comes to addressing public health emergencies.

"Palagay ko there are some heads that must roll. Hindi ko na babanggitin kung sino pa yan pero palagay ko alam naman ng Pangulo yan eh kung sino ( I think there are some heads that must roll. I won't mention whose heads they are but I believe the President knows them)," the pastor-turned-congressman said.

Asked which government agency has had the biggest shortcoming, he said, "DOH (Department of Health) is number one."

He said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is number two, reasoning its top official hasn't been listening to Congress.

"I think the LTFRB should know what they are doing now kasi hindi kami pinapakinggan eh. Actually nagmi-meeting ang Metro Manila Development Council and Atty. Delgra is not actually listening to us (Actually the Metro Manila Development Council has been conducting meetings and Atty. Delgra is not actually listening to us)," he claimed. 

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